Reader Fred Ray sends word of an NAACP complaint about discriminatory traffic patterns in Myrtle Beach, S.C. It appears that two large, back to back motorcycle rallies, one mainly white and one mainly black, are not treated exactly the same.

Say What? (4)

Novel, indeed! But it’s in our nature to hold on to what benefits us and discard the harmful or the embarrassing. For instance, blacks on average have lower IQs than whites, but blacks deny the validity or even usefulness of IQ scores. But if a black murderer has an IQ of only 70, that’s a mitigating circumstance and/or basis for ruling out the death penalty!

“…It takes longer for ethnic hair to dry and more conditioners are used.”

If this is factual, black women are not similarly situated to Caucasian customers. In fact, they would be receiving more for the same service, which would given the caucasian customer grounds to file a class action suit against Dillards for discrimination.

Of course Dillard’s should be able to charge more if it takes longer to do someone’s hair, or if it requires more conditioners, but they need to formulate a race-neutral policy and apply it evenly. Even if what the company says is generally true, there must be some white women who cost the company more in time and products than do some black women.

Nels – Good comment! I do, however, still find it interesting that so many people hold Dillard’s (and similar organizations) to a higher standard of equal treatment than their state universities. Although in reply I suppose it could be said that the preferentialists wouldn’t require equal treatment if what were at issue were Dillards hiring a manager of the hair salon….